Can you guess the best-selling models from every major car maker? We cover Kia to Porsche in part 2 of the series
Most UK drivers can name the best-selling cars on our roads in recent years.But correctly identifying the most popular nameplate of all time for every major manufacturer is significantly more difficult.That’s because some model sell by the droves in other markets, but have never been in UK showrooms. Others examples are motors that were on sale well before generations of drivers were even both.So, to put your petrol head knowledge to the ultimate test, we’ve dug out the best-selling nameplates that have lasted the test of the time for generations from the 40 most recognisable manufacturers that still sell cars in Britain today.While some are boutique sports car brands with limited production outputs – – think Lamborghini and Lotus – others are serious volume sellers, like Kia, Mercedes, Mini and Peugeot.In the second of our three-part series running over the coming days, we cover the car makers from K to P. Let us know in the comments how many best sellers you named correctly… KiaBest seller: Sportage (1993-present)Examples sold: over 7 million Kia has sold over 7 million Sportage SUVs globally since it first hit the market in 1993. The third-generation model (second left) that made it a UK hitKia’s volume selling model could easily be described as a ‘slow burn’. When the Mk1 version emerged on the market in 1993, it remained relatively niche across various markets due to its rudimentary ride and handling.But when Hyundai snapped up its Korean sister brand and reintroduced the Sportage in 2004, it was a far more accomplished vehicle – and that started to be reflected in sales. But everything changed in 2010 when the third generation model emerged, giving Britons and drivers across Europe a good – and affordable – reason to steer away from legacy brands. Today, the current model is the UK’s favourite medium-size SUV, helping it amass over seven million deliveries over a three-decade lifecycle.LamborghiniBest seller: Urus (2018-present)Examples sold: circa 25,000 Despite being renowned for supercars, its the Urus SUV that’s Lamborghini’s biggest-volume product. That’s not much of a surpriseWhen we predicted that Ferrari’s best-selling car will likely become its Purosangue SUV launched in 2023, this was based on the Urus being Lamborghini’s high-volume product.Over 25,000 have found homes across the globe, and numbers are still rising. Given its based largely on a VW platform that already underpins models like the Audi Q8, volume production is more cost effective than its more luxurious sports cars.The arrival of a SUV has done little to dampen Lamborghini’s exclusivity, either. While some believed it would threaten the brand’s appeal, it has instead opened ownership up to Lambo fans with families – and they’ve snapped them up at a rate.Land RoverBest seller: Defender/Series (1948-present)Examples sold: over 2.2 million By the time production of the old-school Defender ceased in January 2016, some 2million Series Land Rovers and Defenders had been sold globally The new Defender SUV is now Land Rover’s most popular product, with the brand delivering around 100k globally every yearThis one is a little questionable because merging the Series Land Rovers, original Defenders and the latest Defender SUV is a bit of a push.Yet the lineage of these cars is forever connected, dating back to the original in 1948.By the time the old-school Defender ceased production in 2016, some 2million had sold. With Land Rover now shifting some 100k new-style Defenders per year as its most popular product, the numbers of forever climbing.LexusBest seller: RX (1998-present)Examples sold: over 3.7 million Lexus’ decision years ago to offer the RX with hybrid power has seen it become a sales hit. It’s hugely popular in the US and commonly tops reliability charts in UK driver surveysThe luxury arm of Toyota has made a killing with its large RX SUV. Having taken the bold decision to switch to hybrid power than most rivals, Lexus has reaped the reward with volume sales.Its popularity in the US has helped boost numbers, as has its very strong reputation.We’ve lost count of the number of time Lexus has topped reliability and satisfaction surveys of UK drivers. LotusBest seller: Elise (1996-2021)Examples sold: 35,124 The Elise single-handedly saved Lotus from financial ruin in the 1990s. Today, it’s still the brand’s best selling product by total volumes between 1996 and 2021Lotus’ best-seller is one that saved it from the bring of financial ruin in the 1990s. And Lotus has been close to a demise numerous times since.The model that spared its blushes around the turn of the millennium is the Elise, which – with over 35,000 sales globally – is its most-bought motor of all time. It’s gone on to become a modern classic and earned a cult following.While Lotus Cars, now under Chinese ownership, has projected selling 150,000 models a year by 2028 – most being EVs – the Elise could be eclipsed. But, given recent reports of struggles at the manufacturer, its reign might be safe yet.MazdaBest seller: Familia (1963-2003)Examples sold: 10 million The Mazda Familia – the predecessor to the Mazda3 – is the Japanese company’s best-selling model globally with around 10 million being deliveredMazda has some serious volume sellers among its ranks. The MX-5, for instance, is the world’s best-selling roadster of all time. But it’s not good enough to take the number one spot for the Japanese marque.Instead, it’s the long-running Familia that has accumulated the overall most registrations across the globe. Only Britons of a certain vintage will remember the name, though later models sold in the UK were called the 323. It has since been succeeded by the Mazda 3, which itself has accumulated around 4 million sales in just over 20 years.MaseratiBest seller: Levante (2016-2024)Examples sold: circa 100,000 Despite its 111-year heritage of racing and sporty models, it is an SUV that’s Maserati’s all-time best-selling productAs with so many historical sports car makers listed, Maserati’s best-selling model is significantly larger than the models it’s famed for.In fact, the 1980s Biturbo grand tourer – a car scoffed at for its bargain-basement appeal – held the crown as Maserati’s most popular product before being well and truly blown out of the water by its current volume seller.While the Biturbo amassed over 36,000 sales globally, the Levante SUV has more than trebled that figure. However, with more than 100k units sold, production was wound up last year.Mercedes-BenzBest seller: E-Class (1953-present)Examples sold: Over 15 million Mercedes-Benz is celebrating its 100th year in 2026. And the E-Class is the model its sold most examples of in its historyMercedes has sold a hell of a lot of cars in its century-long history. But none more so than the E-Class.Arriving in 1953 as the W120, the mid-sized executive saloon has survived the test of tim and remains relevant and an important figure in Mercedes’ expanding line-up, which is rapidly being taken over by SUVs.The German outfit only started using the E-Class moniker in 1993, in which time it has sold over 11 million examples. That’s a lot of people riding in luxury.MGBest seller: ZS (2017-present)Examples sold: 1 million No, it’s not the MGB. The marque’s most-bought car is the ZS – a budget-friendly SUV that remains on sale today and is a huge hit in the UK, and even more so in ChinaMany might think the MGB sold through the sixties right until the nineties might be MG’s most-bought product of all time, but that’s not the case.Instead, the model that holds the crown is one of the latest Chinese-owned MG Motor rebranded cars.The ZS is it’s volume-selling compact SUV. It’s attractive pricing has made it a real hit in the UK. But in China, it’s immensely popular. As such, MG has shifted over one million units in an eight-year period.MiniBest seller: Hatch (1959-present)Examples sold: Over 10 million It’s not surprising that Mini’s best-seller is the conventional hatchback. However, what might shock you is that the reborn BMW Mini has reached similar volumes to the original The original Mini isn’t just a British icon, it was a massive sales hit. Some 5.3 million examples of Alec Issigonis’ compact city car – including the hot Cooper models – were bought over a production run spanning more than four decades.BMW’s purchase of the brand and relaunch of the Mini in 2001 has only added to the original’s vast numbers. With more than five million snapped up since German ownership, the Mini Hatchback has now amassed over 10 million deliveries combined.Such as been the success of the reborn Mini that we can’t envisage BMW ever ceasing making them. It’s still engaging to drive and retro cool today, no matter if you have one powered by combustion engines or batteries.MitsubishiBest seller: Lancer (1973-2023)Examples sold: 7.3 million While petrol heads in Briton will most likely associate the Lancer name with high-performance, rally-bred boy racer machines, Mitsubishi’s volume-selling model is driven by the success of its more modest family car on which the the sporty variants are basedMitsubishi will be back selling cars in the UK by the middle of next year, having exited the European market in 2023.But while it will return with its Outland PHEV SUV and the LT200 pick-up, it’s the Lancer that tops the brand’s global sales. While most Britons will associate the Lancer name with high-powered, rally-bred, all-wheel-drive Lancer Evolution performance cars, it’s the conventional model that racked up some 7.3 million deliveries in a 50-year spell from 1973.It was available as a saloon, hatchback and estate during this half century period and made its name with a practical and reliable package.NissanBest seller: Sunny (1966-present)Examples sold: Over 20 million This prolonged availability of the Nissan Sunny over six decades has helped it achieve over 20 million sales – a staggering figureFor drivers of a particular age group, the Sunny is a name that will bring back memories. For others of a younger disposition, you’ve probably never heard of it.In the 1980s and 1990s, the Sunny became a showcase of how Japanese cars were comprehensively outperforming British-built cars for quality, reliability and technology. But while the Sunny name was dropped before the turn of the Millennium, the Sunny sold in other global markets has carried the Almera and Pulsar badge in Europe. In North America, it’s the Sentra.This prolonged availability has helped it achieve over 20 million sales – a staggering figure. Compare that to Nissan’s biggest-volume product today – Qashqai – with four millions sales since 2008, and it pales in significance.PeugeotBest seller: 206 (1998-2023)Examples sold: 10 million The Peugeot 206 is the best-selling model for the French firm, amassing some 10 million deliveries between 1998 and 2023 The success of the 206 was boosted by the availability of the CC, which for a time was Britain’s most-bought convertible carThere are plenty of famous – and popular – names among Peugeot’s historical ranks, including the 205, which is renowned for its performance GTI derivative.But there’s a later model that outsold even the 205 – the 206. When it emerged in 1998, its sharp styling was like nothing else. It too came with the option of an estate and the hairdresser-favourite CC cabriolet.All proved popular, especially in the UK and across Europe. And when it came time for the 206 to be succeeded, the 207 couldn’t live up to the hype, leaving the 206 as the firm’s biggest unit product.PorscheBest seller: 911 (1963-present)Examples sold: 1.2 million Spanning more than six decades, the 911 has been ever present for Porsche. As such, the flagship model is the brand’s all-time best sellerGiven its lineage dates back to the sixties, there should be little shot to see the 911 top the order as the most-sold Porsche worldwide.Despite always having the engine ‘in the wrong place’, the enduring 911 has been wowing drivers for more than six decades. In early 2017, it surpassed the 1 million units mark and continues to go great guns today.While the more affordable Boxster is a model that’s famed for renewing and extending Porsche’s appeal, it can’t match the 911 on sheer units.Save on services and MOTs – and keep track of your car’s documents The This is Money Motoring Club is designed to make car ownership cheaper and simpler for This is Money and Daily Mail readers.Powered by MotorEasy it’s the place to keep on top of tax, MOTs and servicing – and manage the important documents and receipts that boost your car’s value.You can also save money on maintenance and repairs – and book into one of 10,000 trusted workshops nationwide.New members receive a £20 reward voucher, which you can put towards repairs or even a warranty – giving you peace of mind that if something goes wrong, you won’t be left footing the bill. 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已发布: 2025-12-25 07:00:00
